Recreation Research Update
Pacific Southwest Research Station
Wildland Recreation and Urban Cultures
Attitudes about T&E Species Management
An on-site survey of recreationists was conducted at
recreation sites on the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres,
and San Bernardino National Forests (approved for
collection, OMB #0596-0153, expiration 10/31/2002).
The response rate was 70.6%. Group sizes ranged
from 1 to 18 individuals (average of 5). More males than
females participated, and though ages ranged from 16 to
78, most respondents were in their thirties. The majority
had attended at least some college; household incomes
varied.
Respondents were, on average, concerned about
threatened and endangered species (mean of 6.35 on a
scale from 1=not at all concerned to 8=very concerned.
They saw themselves as more concerned than others
recreating on the same forest. Of 687 ratings, 468 rated
their concern as higher, 54 rated concern of others as
higher, and 165 were tied (z=-18.077, p<.001).
Most respondents saw themselves as similar, in
varying degrees, to the Forest Service regarding goals,
direction, values, and thinking about threatened and
endangered species management.
Of the five management interventions provided in
the survey to address threatened and endangered species
protection, signs in recreation settings received the
highest approval rating, followed by staff visits and
partial closures of areas. Less acceptable were closures
lasting a year or longer, and banning specific
recreational uses. Effectiveness ratings were, from
highest to lowest: partial closures, closures for a year or
longer, staff visits, signs and banning specific
recreational uses. Personal impact was, from highest to
lowest: closures lasting a year or longer, partial closures,
bans on particular uses, staff visits and signs.
Respondents were asked to indicate a preferred
agency action in cases where recreationists ignored area
closures. The most preferred penalties were verbal
warnings, assisting with area maintenance, paying a
large fine, paying a small fine, or being asked to leave
the forest. Less than 10% recommended having no
penalty, requiring people to watch a forest conservation
film, or arrest.
These findings provide insight into the preferences
and opinions of individuals recreating on the four forests
that were contacted for our survey, and are helpful in
situations where public opinion can be taken into
January 2002 No. 39
Caring for the Land and Serving People
account in developing management strategies to protect
species and their habitats. For further information
please contact Pat Winter at (909) 680-1557.
Communication for Visitor Management:
Allegheny NF Case Study
A study of communication needs and approaches for
visitor management has been completed by Dr. Alan
Graefe (Pennsylvania State University) and Dr. James
Absher (PSW), with assistance from Dr. John Confer
and Dr. Brijesh Thapa (now at University of Florida),
focused on Allegheny National Forest’s Hickory Creek
Wilderness (HCW) as a case study. Numerous
management problems occur in outdoor recreation areas
because of ill-prepared, uninformed or misinformed
visitors. A variety of direct and indirect communication
strategies can optimize visitor satisfaction as well as
safeguard and sustain the recreational setting, especially
if the information positively influences recreationists’
attitudes and creates acceptable behavioral ethics.
The purpose of this study was to enhance existing
understanding of communication, information and
education as resource management techniques. This
study provides an analysis of diverse user groups’
knowledge, behavior, and attitudes about Wilderness in
general and the HCW in particular. Surveys were
conducted with users from five key groups
encompassing campground users, day visitors, HCW
hikers, adjacent landowners and equestrians. A
combination on-site and mail survey methodology was
used with mailback response rates from 41% to 61%.
The user groups studied varied in their demographic
characteristics, use patterns, and information uses and
preferences. Visitors were most interested in
information on the location of trails and landscape
features (i.e., maps), and would prefer to receive such
information before their visit. In general, maps and
signs were the most frequently consulted information
sources, followed by travel guides and tour books,
brochures and pamphlets and visitor centers. In general,
Wilderness users tend to report the greatest information
needs and are most likely to seek information before
their trip. Adjacent landowners are mainly interested in
information about hunting and fishing opportunities, and
are least satisfied with existing information services.
Day users generally expressed lower information needs
Wildland Recreation and Urban Cultures, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 4955 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside, CA 92507
and used fewer sources, but were interested in natural
and cultural history information. Equestrians rely most
heavily on ranger stations and trailhead signs for
information and expressed the greatest need for
information about rules and regulations. Other results,
e.g., “Leave No Trace” knowledge scores, from these
and other groups are also detailed in the report.
Study results demonstrate the importance of
knowing your customers and your windows of
opportunity for information and education programs.
These results also suggest the importance of a diverse
and strategically implemented communication plan that
includes all significant user segments/communities. For
further information please contact Jim Absher (909)
680-1559.
Day Use on the San Bernardino National
Forest
In the last issue of the Update, Debbie Chavez
reported on Day Use data from the San Bernardino
National Forest. This issue continues by focusing on
selected activities, site attributes, and personal
preferences.
Figure 1 shows selected activities. Traditional
activities are the ones that more people have heard of,
have tried, and indicate they might try, as was
mountain biking from the “new” list. Fewer people
had heard of or tried camera safaris and eco-tours, or
heli-skiing. More had heard of bungee jumping and
hang gliding, though few had tried these activities.
Might Try Activity
Tried Activity
Heard of Activity
100
80
60
40
20
Traditional
New
Hang
gliding
Bungee
jumping
Heli-skiing
Eco-tours
Mountain
biking
Camera
safaris
Natural
history
hikes
Horseback
tours
0
High Risk
Figure 1. Selected activities
Given choices of 15-minute trails, 30-minute
trails, one-hour trails, and trails which take a few
hours, most people preferred one-hour trail lengths
(52%). Respondents were also asked if they wanted
easy to walk trails, somewhat challenging trails or
very challenging trails. Most wanted somewhat
challenging trails (51%).
Respondents said the following facilities and
amenities were very important: trash cans (49%),
water faucets (42%), picnic tables (35%), and parking
areas (31%). Less important were cooking grills and
fire pits/rings.
Events and behaviors at the sites which bothered
respondents included: litter along the road, drawings
or graffiti on man-made structures, drawings or
graffiti on natural structures, litter at picnic sites, and
carving of names, initials or messages on trees. Less
bothersome were a lot of people at the site, dogs
walked off-leash, people drinking alcohol, and cars
parked in “No Parking” areas. Most respondents
planned to tell other people about their trip, felt the
site was safe and secure, said it was a great recreation
experience, and was well worth the money spent to
take the trip.
Day use of the San Bernardino National Forest is
a very significant amount of overall use. Why people
recreate there, what they like to do, and what they
prefer to have for site amenities and facilities are all
very salient pieces of information for National Forest
managers. For further information about this study
please contact Debbie Chavez.
Unit Publications
Cindrity, S.; Vogt, C.A. 2001. Full-year and
seasonal residents living in the interface:
Considerations for fuel treatment programs.
Program and Abstracts, The Wildland-Urban
Interface: Sustaining Forests in a Changing
Landscape; 2001 November 5-8; Gainesville, FL, p.
79.
Dwyer, J.F.; Chavez, D.J. 2001. The challenges of
managing public lands on the urban wildland
interface. Program and Abstracts, The Wildland-Urban
Interface: Sustaining Forests in a Changing Landscape;
2001 November 5-8; Gainesville, FL, p. 34.
Hendricks, W.W.; Ramthun, R.H.; Chavez, D.J.
2001. The effects of persuasive message source and
content on mountain bicyclists’ adherence to trail
etiquette guidelines. Journal of Park and Recreation
Administration, 19 (3): 38-61.
Winter, P.L.; Knap, N.E. 2001. An exploration of
recreation and management preferences related to
threatened and endangered species: Final report for
the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San
Bernardino National Forests. Unpublished report.
Riverside, CA: USDA Forest Service, Pacific
Southwest Research Station. 57 p.
Debbie Chavez, Update Coordinator ☀ 909.680.1558 ☀ email: dchavez@fs.fed.us ☀ http://www.rfl.psw.fs.fed.us/recreation/index.html